The Prestige Difference

       We understand that these are tough economic times, and money is tight in every household. Today's consumer is always shopping around for the best deal and the most "bang for your buck." Decisions are made every day whether to maintain or replace, and which would be the most cost effective route. As local contractors who live and work in this area we understand this economy we all share, and how far a dollar truly goes. When you hire Prestige Sealcoating LLC we go above and beyond to give you more then what you paid for.
       First and foremost let me start by saying we are never going to be the cheapest estimate you receive for many different reasons. We are a business, and as a business we need to make a profit to stay afloat. We started in this business with nothing and the beginning years were a struggle and a learning/humbling experience. We know exactly what it cost us every step of the way to make your driveway look beautiful; from the material to the labor, and the miscellaneous in between. That being said we will never work for free or and we will not willingly take a loss. We want the best for you and your driveway, but it will come at a cost. You might ask: "Why should we pay more to hire Prestige Sealcoating llc?"
       Experience, experience, experience. As a small business there is no one there to hold your hand to help get the job done for you. Between my brother and I we share 26 years real world experience. This is not a summer gig for us. We have worked 7 days a week, 10-12 hour days for the past eight years. We know asphalt and we understand its setbacks and frailties. We know what your driveway needs and what it does not. We will be the first to tell you if your driveway is not worth sealing, is in need of paving, or if it would be okay if you skipped sealing it this year. We will never waste your time or your money with services you don't need or services that will not help prolong the life of your asphalt. You helped get us to where we are today. We will never forget that, and for that we are grateful for it. Along with that experience comes the understanding of the materials and the proper methods and tools to yield the best possible outcome.
       We have tried and tested every major brand of sealer on the market and we now stand by Copeland Coatings refined coal tar emulsion with latex additives for strength, resilience, and adhesion. Not only is Copeland a local business in the area most of the ingredients that go into making their sealer come from right here in the USA. It truly is a great American product from the clay to the sand to the final product which we bring straight to you. We receive our sealer straight from Copeland pure and uncut the only thing we have to do is dilute the material which allows us to be able to spread the sealer evenly onto the asphalt. Now I know what you're thinking; "Why am I paying for watered down product?" We only add thirty gallons of water to every hundred gallons of sealer as instructed by Copeland. This allows the sealer to form a workable consistency and keeps the ingredients in the sealer mixed and uniform. Sealer that is too thick will not penetrate past the surface of the asphalt and will flake/chip off. Sealer that is too thin will wear prematurely, and have no resistance to chemicals. Be assured our sealer is just right and ready for action.
       Second, we have the equipment to get the job done right. All of our sealer tanks are five hundred and fifty gallon stainless steel tanks commercially designed with one purpose; to transport sealer safely. Our tanks have inner splash lids to keep the material in the tank and a outer lid that fastens securely so there is no risk of sealer escaping. They also come with agitation systems which allow us to stir the material throughout the day and keep our sealer mixed to perfection for a flawless job every time. We have a fleet of wheeled blowers to handle the smallest driveway to the largest parking lot. We have never meet a driveway we couldn't clean, and believe me we have seen them all. We use special brooms designed for sealcoating asphalt that help us get as much sealer into your driveway as humanly possible, while maintaining a picturesque end result. When it comes to hot crack filling we have that too! We possess a thirty gallon melting pot which allows us to safely melt rubber to four hundred and fifty degrees. From there, the material goes into a pour pot and is spread with a hot crack fill squeegee. We would never cheap out on our end when it comes to materials and tools, and then expect you to pay a fortune for less. We have invested in this company, and like with any investment we expect a healthy return.
       In closing, the main reason we cost more is because we do more, we know more, and we have over 2,000 photos on the internet through our web page, and links off of our web page that will back that up. When I say we cost more the difference is usually a few cents a square foot. Sometimes it’s more but that is because the other guy's estimate is so ridiculously low he can't even afford to do the job for that price unless he is cutting corners at every turn. All we ask is that before you decide on a contractor call us first. You will be happy you did.

There Is More To An Estimate Than Just Square Footage

      

The number one question we get asked is: "Why is my estimate so high?" It is often followed by "But my neighbor's driveway is the same size and their driveway cost less." The final cost to sealcoat a driveway can vary even though the overall square footage is the same. Some factors that can affect the price to sealcoat your driveway are the age/condition of the driveway, shape, clean/dirty, obstacles (retaining walls, planters, etc.), long paved sidewalks, and the amount of prep work (long grass/crab grass, oil spots).
       At the top of the list is probably the most overlooked reason for a price jump is the sealed driveway vs. an unsealed driveway. Whether the driveway is ten years old or was paved last year an unsealed driveway always takes more sealer. The asphalt is porous like a dish sponge just waiting to soak up sealer. Unsealed driveways take almost twice as much sealer in comparison to a sealed driveway. The other characteristics of unsealed driveways that can affect the price are the material used (binder type 5, 6, or 7), how it was laid (by hand or with a paver), and compaction (plate compacter vs. a 1 ton roller). The worst case scenario for a home owner receiving an estimate would be a driveway that was paved by hand using binder or type 5, and compacted with a plate compacter or 1/2 ton roller. Larger material raked by hand that is poorly compacted leaves the driveway loose and porous. Driveways done in this manner are usually performed by lack lust contractors, and the end results are usually failed driveways.
Large stone aggregate, under compaction, and hand laid driveways will always cost more to seal.
       The second contributing factor is the overall shape and condition of the driveway. A driveway that has been neglected for years is always going to cost you more money in the long run. Every detail matters for example; if your lawn is manicured vs. a foot long and full of crab grass. This is the difference between edging taking five minutes or twenty five minutes and as they say time is money. If your driveway has mud, dirt, lawn clippings, and or weeds growing from cracks this will also add to the price. The more sweeping we have to do the more it is going to cost you. If your driveway has lots of large cracks and deteriorated areas it is going to take more sealer. If your driveway has large grease stains or is saturated with oil we will have to prime it first which takes time and materials. Most likely we will have to come back for a second coat in those areas which wastes time and gas. Basically the more time we have to spend making your driveway look good the more it is going to cost you.
       In an ideal world every driveway would be paved perfect, and sealed every other year. Then you could simple say twelve cents a square foot it is, but we now know this is not the case. So you might ask: "what could we do to receive the best possible estimate and save some money?"

-Seal your driveway every other year
-Keep your driveway clean
-Use cat litter or speedy dry to absorb oil/grease
-Use degreaser on stains then rinse with water (Purple Power, Simple Green, etc.)
-Keep your lawn manicured especially near your driveway
-Spray weed killer on any growth coming out of your driveway
-Use bleach on moss then scrub and rinse
-Crackfill cracks if capable

      I Hope this article was helpful in clarifying some of the other things we look at when coming up with the cost of your driveway. Do yourself a favor and take some pride in your driveway, and we promise it will pay off in the end.